Orientation Based Microphone Selection Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus comprising: an input configured to receive at least one audio signal input from at least one microphonel; at least one microphone configuration determiner configured to provide for the at least one microphone a location on the apparatus; at least one sensor configured to provide at least one orientation of the apparatus; a recording mode determiner configured to determine at least one recording mode for the apparatus based on the location of the at least one microphone and the at least one orientation of the apparatus; a recording mode controller configured to determine at least one recording parameter for the at least one audio signal input from the at least one microphone based in the at feast one recording mode; and digital signal processor configured to apply the at least one recording parameter to the at least one audio signal input

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/833,453 filed Mar. 27, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/443,791 filed May 19, 2015, which was originallyfiled as Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/IB2012/056991filed Dec. 5, 2012. The entire contents of all of these applications areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present application relates to apparatus and methods for audiosignal recording and processing and specifically but not only audiosignal recording and processing within mobile apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Audio recording systems can make use of more than one microphone topick-up and record audio in the surrounding environment.

For example mobile devices or apparatus can be equipped with two or moremicrophones which offers a possibility to record multichannel audio, inother words to capture surround sound. The recording of ‘real’ surroundsounds requires three or more microphones. However as well as the numberof microphones the location or positioning of the microphones relativeto each other and the surroundings is significant with regards torecording surround sound. For example a device with a fixed arrangementof microphones can be orientated in various directions, each of theorientations causing the device to have a distribution or arrangement ofmicrophones which can limit the ability to record surround sound. Forexample the device can be located in landscape mode (in other words witha larger horizontal dimension) or portrait mode (with a larger verticaldimension) and the microphones thus effectively change positiondependent on the orientation of the apparatus. The positioning of themicrophones should be such that the plane defined by the microphoneinlets should be as parallel as possible to the horizontal plane. Forexample some manufacturers use a threshold of within 45 degrees.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect there is provided a method comprising:providing at least one audio signal input from at least one microphone;providing for the at least one microphone a location on an apparatus;providing at least one orientation of the apparatus; determining atleast one recording mode for the apparatus based on the location of theat least one microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus; determining at least one recording parameter for the at leastone audio signal input from the at least one microphone based on the atleast one recording mode; and applying the at least one recordingparameter to the at least one audio signal input.

The method may further comprise providing at least one user input, andwherein determining the recording mode for the apparatus furthercomprises determining the recording mode based on the at least one userinput.

Determining at least one recording mode for the apparatus based on thelocation of the microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus may comprise: determining at least two recording modes for theapparatus based on the location of the microphone and the at least oneorientation of the apparatus; presenting an indication for each of theat least two recording modes for the apparatus on a display; andselecting at least one of the two recording modes for the apparatusbased on a user interface input related to the indication for each ofthe at least two recording modes for the apparatus on the display.

Presenting an indication for each of the at least two recording modesfor the apparatus on a display may comprise: presenting a currentrecording mode indication and a recommended recording mode indication;and presenting a current recording mode indication, a second recordingmode indication and a recommended recording mode indication.

Presenting a current recording mode indication and a recommendedrecording mode indication may comprise at least one of: presenting amaintain stereo recording mode indication as the current recording modeindication and a change to mono recording mode indication as therecommended recording mode indication; and presenting a maintainsurround sound recording mode indication as the current recording modeindication and a change to stereo recording mode indication as therecommended recording mode indication,

Presenting a current recording mode indication, a second recording modeindication and a recommended recording mode indication may comprisepresenting a maintain surround sound recording mode indication as thecurrent recording mode indication, a change to stereo recording modeindication as the second recording mode indication and a change to monorecording mode indication as the recommended recording mode indication.

Providing at least one audio signal input from at least one microphonemay comprise providing at least two signal inputs from at least twomicrophones, and providing for the at least one microphone a location onan apparatus comprises providing for the at least two microphoneslocations on the apparatus.

Determining at least one recording parameter for the at least one audiosignal input from the at least one microphone based on the at least onerecording mode may comprise: selecting which of the at least one audiosignal input from the at least one microphone to input; determiningsignal processing parameters for the at least one audio signal inputfrom the at least one microphone to input; and determining mixingparameters for the at least one audio signal input from the at least onemicrophone to input.

Determining at least one recording mode for the apparatus based on thelocation of the microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus may comprise: determining a first recording mode for a firstrecording track for the apparatus based on the location of themicrophone and the at least one orientation of the apparatus; anddetermining a second recording mode for a second recording track for theapparatus based on the location of the microphone and the at least oneorientation of the apparatus.

Providing at least one orientation of the apparatus may compriseproviding at least one orientation change of the apparatus andfurthermore determining at least one recording mode for the apparatusbased on the location of the microphone and the at least one orientationof the apparatus comprises determining at least one recording mode forthe apparatus based on the location of the microphone and the at leastone orientation change of the apparatus.

According to a second aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising;an input configured to receive at least one audio signal input from atleast one microphone; at least one microphone configuration determinerconfigured to provide for the at least one microphone a location on theapparatus; at least one sensor configured to provide at least oneorientation of the apparatus; a recording mode determiner configured todetermine at least one recording mode for the apparatus based on thelocation of the at least one microphone and the at least one orientationof the apparatus; a recording mode controller configured to determine atleast one recording parameter for the at least one audio signal inputfrom the at least one microphone based on the at least one recordingmode; and a digital signal processor configured to apply the at leastone recording parameter to the at least one audio signal input.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one user interface inputconfigured to provide at least one user input, and wherein the recordingmode determiner configured to determine the recording mode for theapparatus may further comprise determining the recording mode based onthe at least one user input.

The recording mode determiner may be configured to determine at leasttwo recording modes for the apparatus based on the location of themicrophone and the at least one orientation of the apparatus; theapparatus may further comprise a display configured to present anindication for each of the at least two recording modes for theapparatus: and the user interface input may be configured to provide anuser interface input configured to select at least one of the tworecording modes for the apparatus.

The display may be configured to present a current recording modeindication and a recommended recording mode indication.

The display may be configured to present a current recording modeindication, a second recording mode indication and a recommendedrecording mode indication,

The display may be configured to present a maintain stereo recordingmode indication as the current recording mode indication and a change tomono recording mode indication as the recommended recording modeindication.

The display may be configured to present a maintain surround soundrecording mode indication as the current recording mode indication and achange to stereo recording mode indication as the recommended recordingmode indication.

The display may be configured to present a maintain surround soundrecording mode indication as the current recording mode indication, achange to stereo recording mode indication as the second recording modeindication and a change to mono recording mode indication as therecommended recording mode indication.

The input may be configured to provide at least two signal inputs fromat least two microphones, and the at least one microphone configurationdeterminer may be configured to provide for the at least two microphoneslocations on the apparatus.

The recording mode controller may comprise at least one of: a selectorconfigured to control selecting which of the at least one audio signalinput from the at least one microphone to input; a signal processingparameter determiner configured to determine signal processingparameters for the at least one audio signal input from the at least onemicrophone to input; and mixer controller configured to determine mixingparameters for the at least one audio signal input from the at least onemicrophone to input.

The recording mode determiner may be configured to determine a firstrecording mode for a first recording track for the apparatus based onthe location of the microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus; and determine a second recording mode for a second recordingtrack for the apparatus based on the location of the microphone and theat least one orientation of the apparatus.

The at least one sensor may be configured to provide at least oneorientation change of the apparatus.

The recording mode determiner may be configured to determine at leastone recording mode for the apparatus based on the location of themicrophone and the at least one orientation change of the apparatus.

The apparatus may comprise at least one microphone configured to providethe at least one audio signal to the at least one audio signal input.

The apparatus may comprise at least two microphones configured toprovide the at least two audio signals to the at least two audio signalinputs.

According to a third aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising:means for providing at least one audio signal input from at least onemicrophone; means for providing for the at least one microphone alocation on an apparatus; means for providing at least one orientationof the apparatus; means for determining at least one recording mode forthe apparatus based on the location of the at least one microphone andthe at least one orientation of the apparatus; means for determining atleast one recording parameter for the at least one audio signal inputfrom the at least one microphone based on the at least one recordingmode; and means for applying the at least one recording parameter to theat least one audio signal input,

The apparatus may further comprise means for providing at least one userinput, and wherein the means for determining the recording mode for theapparatus may further comprises means for determining the recording modebased on the at least one user input.

The means for determining at least one recording mode for the apparatusbased on the location of the microphone and the at least one orientationof the apparatus may comprise: means for determining at least tworecording modes for the apparatus based on the location of themicrophone and the at least one orientation of the apparatus; means forpresenting an indication for each of the at least two recording modesfor the apparatus on a display; and means for selecting at least one ofthe two recording modes for the apparatus based on a user interfaceinput related to the indication for each of the at least two recordingmodes for the apparatus on the display.

The means for presenting an indication for each of the at least tworecording modes for the apparatus on a display may comprise: means forpresenting a current recording mode indication and a recommendedrecording mode indication; and means for presenting a current recordingmode indication, a second recording mode indication and a recommendedrecording mode indication.

The means for presenting a current recording mode indication and arecommended recording mode indication may comprise at least one of;means for presenting a maintain stereo recording mode indication as thecurrent recording mode indication and a change to mono recording modeindication as the recommended recording mode indication; and means forpresenting a maintain surround sound recording mode indication as thecurrent recording mode indication and a change to stereo recording modeindication as the recommended recording mode indication.

The means for presenting a current recording mode indication, a secondrecording mode indication and a recommended recording mode indicationmay comprise means for presenting a maintain surround sound recordingmode indication as the current recording mode indication, a change tostereo recording mode indication as the second recording mode indicationand a change to mono recording mode indication as the recommendedrecording mode indication.

The means for providing at least one audio signal input from at leastone microphone may comprise means for providing at least two signalinputs from at least two microphones, and the means for providing forthe at least one microphone a location on an apparatus may comprisemeans for providing for the at least two microphones locations on theapparatus.

The means for determining at least one recording parameter for the atleast one audio signal input from the at least one microphone based onthe at least one recording mode may comprise at least one of: means forselecting which of the at least one audio signal input from the at leastone microphone to input; means for determining signal processingparameters for the at least one audio signal input from the at least onemicrophone to input; and means for determining mixing parameters for theat least one audio signal input from the at least one microphone toinput.

The means for determining at least one recording mode for the apparatusbased on the location of the microphone and the at least one orientationof the apparatus may comprise: means for determining a first recordingmode for a first recording track for the apparatus based on the locationof the microphone and the at least one orientation of the apparatus; andmeans for determining a second recording mode for a second recordingtrack for the apparatus based on the location of the microphone and theat least one orientation of the apparatus.

The means for providing at least one orientation of the apparatus maycomprise means for providing at least one orientation change of theapparatus.

The means for determining at least one recording mode for the apparatusbased on the location of the microphone and the at least one orientationof the apparatus may comprise means for determining at least onerecording mode for the apparatus based on the location of the microphoneand the at least one orientation change of the apparatus.

The means for providing at least one audio signal may comprise at leastone microphone. The means for providing at least two audio signals maycomprise at least two microphones.

According to a fourth aspect there is provided an apparatus comprisingat least one processor and at least one memory including computer codefor one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer codeconfigured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to atleast: provide at least one audio signal input from at least onemicrophone; provide for the at least one microphone a location on theapparatus; provide at least one orientation of the apparatus; determineat least one recording mode for the apparatus based on the location ofthe at least one microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus; determine at least one recording parameter for the at leastone audio signal input from the at least one microphone based on the atleast one recording mode; and apply the at least one recording parameterto the at least one audio signal input.

Presenting an indication for each of the at least two recording modesfor the apparatus on a display may cause the apparatus to: present acurrent recording mode indication and a recommended recording modeindication; and present a current recording mode indication, a secondrecording mode indication and a recommended recording mode indication,

Presenting a current recording mode indication and a recommendedrecording mode indication may cause the apparatus to at least one of:present a maintain stereo recording mode indication as the currentrecording mode indication and a change to mono recording mode indicationas the recommended recording mode indication; and present a maintainsurround sound recording mode indication as the current recording modeindication and a change to stereo recording mode indication as therecommended recording mode indication.

Presenting a current recording mode indication, a second recording modeindication and a recommended recording mode indication may cause theapparatus to present a maintain surround sound recording mode indicationas the current recording mode indication, a change to stereo recordingmode indication as the second recording mode indication and a change tomono recording mode indication as the recommended recording modeindication.

The apparatus may be further caused to provide at least one user input,and wherein determining the recording mode for the apparatus may furthercause the apparatus to determine the recording mode based on the atleast one user input.

Determining at least one recording mode for the apparatus based on thelocation of the microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus may cause the apparatus to: determine at least two recordingmodes for the apparatus based on the location of the microphone and theat least one orientation of the apparatus; present an indication foreach of the at least two recording modes for the apparatus on a display;and select at least one of the two recording modes for the apparatusbased on a user interface input related to the indication for each ofthe at least two recording modes for the apparatus on the display.

Providing at least one audio signal input from at least one microphonemay cause the apparatus to provide at least two signal inputs from atleast two microphones, and providing for the at least one microphone alocation on an apparatus may cause the apparatus to provide for the atleast two microphones locations on the apparatus.

Determining at least one recording parameter for the at least one audiosignal input from the at least one microphone based on the at least onerecording mode may cause the apparatus to at least one of: select whichof the at least one audio signal input from the at least one microphoneto input; determine signal processing parameters for the at least oneaudio signal input from the at least one microphone to input; anddetermine mixing parameters for the at least one audio signal input fromthe at least one microphone to input.

Determining at least one recording mode for the apparatus based on thelocation of the microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus may cause the apparatus to: means for determine a firstrecording mode for a first recording track for the apparatus based onthe location of the microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus; and determine a second recording mode for a second recordingtrack for the apparatus based on the location of the microphone and theat least one orientation of the apparatus.

Providing at least one orientation of the apparatus may cause theapparatus to provide at least one orientation change of the apparatus,

Determining at least one recording mode for the apparatus based on thelocation of the microphone and the at least one orientation of theapparatus may cause the apparatus to determine at least one recordingmode for the apparatus based on the location of the microphone and theat least one orientation change of the apparatus.

The apparatus may comprise at least one microphone configured to providethe at least one audio signal.

The apparatus may comprise at least two microphones configured toprovide the at least two audio signals.

Embodiments of the present application aim to address problemsassociated with the state of the art,

SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES

For better understanding of the present application, reference will nowbe made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically an apparatus suitable for being employed insome embodiments;

FIG. 2 shows schematically an example of a surround sound recordingmicrophone switching apparatus according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of the operation of a surround soundrecording microphone switching apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 according tosome embodiments;

FIG. 4 shows schematically an example two microphone configuration for amobile device according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 shows schematically a first (3A) example three microphoneconfiguration for a mobile device according to some embodiments;

FIG. 6 shows schematically a second (3B) example three microphoneconfiguration for a mobile device according to some embodiments;

FIG. 7 shows schematically a first (4A) example four microphoneconfiguration for a mobile device according to some embodiments;

FIG. 8 shows schematically a second (4B) example four microphoneconfiguration for a mobile device according to some embodiments;

FIG. 9 shows schematically a third (4C) example four microphoneconfiguration for a mobile device according to some embodiments;

FIG. 10 shows schematically an example five microphone configuration fora mobile device according to some embodiments;

FIG. 11 shows schematically an example six microphone configuration fora mobile device according to some embodiments;

FIG. 12 shows schematically an example user interface settings outputfor a two microphone configuration as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 shows schematically an example user interface settings outputfor a three microphone (3A) configuration as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 shows schematically an example user interface settings outputfor a four microphone (4A) configuration as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 shows an example flow diagram of the operating mode settinglogic for a two microphone configuration as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 shows an example flow diagram of the operating mode settinglogic for a three microphone (3A) configuration as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 17 shows an example flow diagram of the operating mode settinglogic for a four microphone (4A) configuration as shown in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 18 and 19 show example device user interface orientation and userinterface outputs according to some embodiments;

FIGS. 20 and 21 show example device microphone locations according tosome embodiments;

FIGS. 22, 23, 24, and 25 show example audio track change timelinesaccording to some embodiments for a 3-microphone configuration as shownin FIG. 20; and

FIG. 26 shows an example audio track change timeline according to someembodiments for a 4-microphone configuration as shown in FIG. 21.

Embodiments

The following describes in further detail suitable apparatus andpossible mechanisms for the provision of microphone switching andconfiguration for surround sound recording or capture operations andparticularly in mobile or portable apparatus.

As described herein apparatus or devices with fixed microphoneconfigurations can when attempting to record the audio surroundings beorientated to locate the microphones according to a first arrangement insuch a way (for example for landscape mode video recording) thatsurround sound can be recorded but then orientated to locate themicrophones according to a further arrangement (for example for portraitmode video recording) so that surround sound cannot be recorded or willproduce poor surround sound (multichannel) reproduction due to the lackof microphones in a suitable plane and within an acceptable angle of thehorizontal.

Similarly the microphone configuration and therefore orientation of theapparatus or device affects any audio signal processing performed on therecorded audio signals such as noise cancellation and beamforming signalprocessing.

The concept of embodiments of the application is thus to enable theselection and use of microphones and therefore configuration of audiochannels based on the orientation of the device or application.Furthermore the embodiments describe selection and application of audiochannel input data based the apparatus fixed configuration. Also in someembodiments the interaction of the user to affect selection andapplication of audio channel input data further based on the apparatusor device fixed and variable configurations is described.

For example the embodiments described herein show microphone locationsthat enable audio channel configuration selection. For example where thedevice or apparatus can be configured to enable, in landscapeorientation, surround sound recording and the apparatus in portrait modecan be enabled to record stereo. Similarly there can be embodimentswhere in landscape mode stereo recording is possible while in portraitmode only mono recording is practical.

The embodiments as described herein further show how the user canoverride the preferred default channel or microphone configurationsbased on the orientation and configuration of the apparatus or device.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of a suitable system within which embodimentsof the application can be implemented. FIG. 1 shows an example of anapparatus or electronic device 10. The electronic device 10 may be usedto record or listen to audio signals and may function as a recordingapparatus.

The electronic device 10 may for example be a mobile terminal or userequipment of a wireless communication system when functioning as therecording apparatus. In some embodiments the apparatus can be an audiorecorder, such as an MPt3 player, a media recorder/player (also known asan MN player), or any suitable portable apparatus suitable for recordingaudio or audio/video camcorder/memory audio or video recorder.

The apparatus 10 may in some embodiments comprise an audio subsystem.The audio subsystem for example can comprise in some embodiments atleast two microphones or array of microphones 11 for audio signalcapture. In some embodiments the at least two microphones or array ofmicrophones can be a solid state microphone, in other words capable ofcapturing audio signals and outputting a suitable digital format signal.In some other embodiments the at least two microphones or array ofmicrophones 11 can comprise any suitable microphone or audio capturemeans, for example a condenser microphone, capacitor microphone,electrostatic microphone,

Electret condenser microphone, dynamic microphone, ribbon microphone,carbon microphone, piezoelectric microphone, or microelectrical-mechanical system (MBAS) microphone. In some embodiments themicrophone 11 is a digital microphone array, in other words configuredto generate a digital signal output (and thus not requiring ananalogue-to-digital converter), The microphone 11 or array ofmicrophones can in some embodiments output the audio captured signal toan analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) 14.

In some embodiments the apparatus can further comprise ananalogue-to-digital converter (ADC) 14 configured to receive theanalogue captured audio signal from the microphones and outputting theaudio captured signal in a suitable digital form. Theanalogue-to-digital converter 14 can be any suitable analogue-to-digitalconversion or processing means. In some embodiments the microphones are‘integrated’ microphones containing both audio signal generating andanalogue-to-digital conversion capability.

In some embodiments the apparatus 10 audio subsystems further comprisesa digital-to-analogue converter 32 for converting digital audio signalsfrom a processor 21 to a suitable analogue format. Thedigital-to-analogue converter (DAC) or signal processing means 32 can insome embodiments be any suitable DAC technology,

Furthermore the audio subsystem can comprise in some embodiments aspeaker 33. The speaker 33 can in some embodiments receive the outputfrom the digital-to-analogue converter 32 and present the analogue audiosignal to the user. In some embodiments the speaker 33 can berepresentative of multi-speaker arrangement, a headset, for example aset of headphones, or cordless headphones.

Although the apparatus 10 is shown having both audio capture and audiopresentation components, it would be understood that in some embodimentsthe apparatus 10 can comprise only the audio capture part of the audiosubsystem such that in some embodiments of the apparatus the microphones(for audio capture) are present.

In some embodiments the apparatus 10 comprises a processor 21. Theprocessor 21 is coupled to the audio subsystem and specifically in someexamples the analogue-to-digital converter 14 for receiving digitalsignals representing audio signals from the microphone 11, and thedigital-to-analogue converter (DAC) 12 configured to output processeddigital audio signals. The processor 21 can be configured to executevarious program codes. The implemented program codes can comprise forexample audio channel configuration determination, audio channelselection and audio signal processing routines.

In some embodiments the apparatus further comprises a memory 22. In someembodiments the processor is coupled to memory 22. The memory can be anysuitable storage means. In some embodiments the memory 22 comprises aprogram code section 23 for storing program codes implementable upon theprocessor 21. Furthermore in some embodiments the memory 22 can furthercomprise a stored data section 24 for storing data, for example datathat has been recorded or analysed in accordance with the application.The implemented program code stored within the program code section 23,and the data stored within the stored data section 24 can be retrievedby the processor 21 whenever needed via the memory-processor coupling.

In some further embodiments the apparatus 10 can comprise a userinterface 15. The user interface 15 can be coupled in some embodimentsto the processor 21. In some embodiments the processor can control theoperation of the user interface and receive inputs from the userinterface 15. In some embodiments the user interface 15 can enable auser to input commands to the electronic device or apparatus 10, forexample via a keypad, and/or to obtain information from the apparatus10, for example via a display which is part of the user interface 15.The user interface 15 can in some embodiments comprise a touch screen ortouch interface capable of both enabling information to be entered tothe apparatus 10 and further displaying information to the user of theapparatus 10.

In some embodiments the apparatus user interface 15 comprises a displayon which information about the apparatus or device can be output. Thedisplay or image display means can be configured to output visual imageswhich can be viewed by the user of the apparatus. In some embodimentsthe display can be a touch screen display suitable for supplying inputdata to the apparatus. The display can be any suitable displaytechnology, for example the display can be implemented by a fiat panelcomprising cells of LCD, LED, OLED, or ‘plasma’ display implementations,

In some embodiments the apparatus further comprises a transceiver 13,the transceiver in such embodiments can be coupled to the processor andconfigured to enable a communication with other apparatus or electronicdevices, for example via a wireless communications network. Thetransceiver 13 or any suitable transceiver or transmitter and/orreceiver means can in some embodiments be configured to communicate withother electronic devices or apparatus via a wire or wired coupling.

The coupling can be any suitable known communications protocol, forexample in some embodiments the transceiver 13 or transceiver means canuse a suitable universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS)protocol, a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol such as forexample IEEE 802.X, a suitable short-range radio frequency communicationprotocol such as Bluetooth, or infrared data communication pathway(IRDA),

In some embodiments the device or apparatus 10 further comprises adirection or orientation sensor 12. The orientation/direction sensor 12can in some embodiments be an electronic compass, accelerometer, and agyroscope or be determined by the motion of the apparatus using thepositioning estimate. Furthermore in some embodiments the direction ororientation sensor can be part of a position sensor configured toestimate the position of the apparatus 10. The position sensor can insome embodiments be a satellite positioning sensor such as a GPS (GlobalPositioning System), GLONASS or Galileo receiver. In some embodimentsthe position sensor can be a cellular ID system or an assisted GPSsystem.

It is to be understood again that the structure of the electronicapparatus or device 10 could be supplemented and varied in many ways.

With respect to FIG. 2 an example multiple microphone recordingapparatus is shown. Furthermore with respect to FIG. 3 the operation ofthe multi-microphone recording apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is described infurther detail.

In some embodiments the apparatus comprises microphones 11 ₁ to 1 _(n).The microphones can be arranged or configured on the apparatus accordingto any suitable arrangement or configuration. The arrangement can beeither defined or determined by the apparatus as described herein.

The microphone 11 can record the audio signals and pass these to asuitable analogue to digital converter 14.

The operation of recording the audio signals from the microphones isshown in FIG. 3 by step 206.

In some embodiments the apparatus comprises at least one analogue todigital converter 14. In the example shown in FIG. 2 there is ananalogue to digital converter 14 coupled to each of the microphones 11and configured to digitise the analogue audio signal from each of themicrophones 11.

The digitised audio signals can then be passed to the digital signalprocessor 125.

The operation of digitising the audio signals is shown in FIG. 3 by step208. In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a user interface input101 or means for user interface input. The user interface input 101 canbe any suitable input processor configured to receive a user interface15 such as for example a touch processor configured to process a touchscreen input and configured to generate suitable user interface data.For example in some embodiments the user interface input 101 isconfigured to provide an indication of a user's recording preferenceselection, such as selecting between surround sound recording, stereorecording, or mono recording.

In some embodiments the user interface input 101 can thus output therecording preference to the recording mode determiner 121. The operationof determining the recording preference is shown in FIG. 3 by step 203.In some embodiments the apparatus comprises an orientation sensor 12 ororientation determining means. The orientation sensor 12 can for examplebe a gyroscope, accelerometer or compass configured to determine thephone position and orientation and pass this information to therecording mode determiner 121. In some embodiments the orientationsensor 12 can be any sensor configured to determine the orientation ofthe apparatus or device. In the following examples the orientation ofthe apparatus can be defined as being either portrait or landscape,however it would be understood that in some embodiments there can beother defined apparatus or device orientations such as sideways (inother words orientated as if flat on a surface), reverse landscape (andreverse portrait. In some embodiments the orientation is defined not by90 degree orientation differences but by any suitable range oforientation. For example in some embodiments the orientation of theapparatus or device is defined by sectors of orientation for one or moreof the three rotational dimensions (roll, pitch, yaw), For example,there may be sections for yaw for every 10 degrees rotation resulting in36 yaw orientation sections. The operation of determining theorientation of the apparatus is shown in FIG. 3 by step 201. Furthermorethe apparatus can comprise a microphone configuration determiner 105 ormeans for determining a microphone configuration. The microphoneconfiguration determiner 105 can in some embodiments determine spatialand orientation configuration relating to the positioning of themicrophones relative to each other and located on the apparatus. In someembodiments the microphone configuration determiner 105 can beconfigured to receive the information on microphone positioning orlocation from the microphones themselves, for example where themicrophones are adjustable or movable. For example in some embodimentswhere the microphones are adjustable or movable then the positionorientation of the microphones can be reflected in the user interfaceinformation and in the settings as the positioning of the microphonesenables/disables different channel recording configurations. In someembodiments the microphone configuration determiner 105 can beconfigured to read a microphone configuration file or locationconfiguration information from a memory, for example from an apparatusconfiguration file defining the microphone fixed locations relative tothe apparatus. In other words in some embodiments the at least onemicrophone location or position could be known in advance by theapparatus or device already. Thus a determination of the microphonelocations and/or orientations can be predetermined or known as well asbeing determined in real time. The microphone configuration determiner105 can thus be configured to output microphone configurationinformation to the recording mode determiner 121.

The operation of determining microphone configuration is shown in FIG. 3by step 205.

In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a recording mode determiner121 or means for determining a recording mode. The recording modedeterminer 121 can be configured to receive information regarding theuser interface input on the recording preference, information regardingto the orientation of the apparatus or device from the orientationsensor 103, and the microphone positioning or location configurationfrom the microphone configuration determiner 105 and from thisinformation determine and enable a recording mode. In some embodimentsthe recording mode determiner 121 can be configured to determine morethan one recording mode is available, and select at least one from theavailable modes, In some embodiments the apparatus can be configured topresent the available recording modes to the user to select at least oneof the modes. In some embodiments the recording mode determiner 121 canfurthermore be configured to indicate which of the microphones can beused to achieve the at least one recording mode selected. It would beunderstood that in some embodiments where there is more than one trackbeing recorded that more than one configuration from the availableconfigurations of microphones can be selected. Furthermore in multipletrack operations for each selection or configuration similar operationsas described herein with respect to the single microphone selection orconfiguration operation can be performed for each track or recording.For example providing the apparatus orientation is known, the recordingmode determiner or other means would know the microphone locationrelative to the apparatus orientation. Furthermore in some embodimentsthe apparatus orientation is determined and based on the apparatusorientation the number of microphones are assigned based on the relativerelationship.

It would be understood that the configuration selection can in someembodiments be a pre-configuration or configuration setting or settingswithin the apparatus. In other words that the at least one recordingtrack is determined using settings stored on the apparatus or downloadedto the apparatus and can be determined without the need for further userinterface input.

An example partial look up table (with no user interface input) for a 4microphone arrangement (microphones A, B, C, and D located at thecorners of the apparatus) can be as follows where the priority columnindicates the priority of the recording mode and/or microphone selectionfor the orientation input indicating that the 1st priority for portraitorientation mono recording uses Mic A and the 2′1 priority uses Mic B inthe case that Mic A is faulty or blocked (or in some way unable to beselected) and so on. Furthermore it would be understood that in someembodiments more than one of the rows (in other words microphoneselections) can be selected for separate tracks. In other words track Acan select landscape stereo A-C configuration and track B can selectlandscape mono A configuration.

Apparatus Recording Microphone orientation Input Mode OutputSelection/Combination Priority Landscape Mono A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4 Portrait A1 B 2 C 3 D 4 “Sideways” . . . . . . Landscape Stereo A-C 1 B-D 2 A-D 3B-C 4 Portrait B-A 1 D-C 2 B-C 3 D-A 4 “Sideways” . . . . . . . . .multi-channel A-B-C . . .

In some embodiments the recording mode determiner 121 can determine theat least one available recording modes by processing the receivedinformation by using a look up table (or similar) whereby the inputsenable selected recording mode outputs. The recording mode determiner121 can in some embodiments output a recording mode indicator to arecording mode controller 123.

The operation of determining the recording mode is shown in FIG. 3 bystep 209.

In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a recording mode controller123 or means for controlling the recording mode. The recording modecontroller 123 is configured to receive the determined recording modefrom the recording mode determiner 121. The recording mode controller123 can then be configured to look up (or generate or calculate) anyrecording parameters required. The recording mode controller 123 canthen be configured to generate a series of signal processing parametersto be applied to the microphone input signals based on the recordingmode.

The updating of recording parameters can in some embodiments beperformed by the recording mode controller 123 in order to compensatefor the change in the physical position of active microphone ormicrophones being used for audio recording. An example of an audiocapture parameter can be the active microphone distance. It would beunderstood that on selecting a different combination of microphonescauses a change in the active microphone distance determination.

These recording mode based signal processing parameters can then bepassed to a digital signal processor 125.

The setting up of the signal processing parameters based on therecording mode is shown in FIG. 3 by step 211.

In some embodiments the recording mode controller 123 can be furtherconfigured to output an indicator to a user interface output (such as adisplay) of the recording mode determined and in some embodiments therecording parameters used.

In sonic embodiments the apparatus comprises a user interface 15 output(for example as shown in FIG. 2 a display 127). The user interfaceoutput or means for providing a user interface output can be configuredto output information indicating which recording mode has been selectedor in some embodiments the recording modes determined to be suitable. Insome embodiments the user interface output can further be configured toindicate or display to the user the parameters being used with therecording mode. For example the user interface output can indicate whichmicrophones are being used to record the audio environment. Theoperation of outputting the user interface information is shown in FIG.3 by step 213. In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a digitalsignal processor 125 or means for digital signal processing audiosignals. The digital signal processor 125 can be configured to receivethe digital forms of the recorded audio signals from each of themicrophones 11. The digital signal processor can further be configuredto receive the signal processing parameters determined by the recordingmode controller 123. The digital signal processor can then be configuredto process the audio signals recorded from the microphones 11 accordingto the signal processing parameters. It would be understood that anysuitable signal processing can be performed such as filtering,equalising, attenuating, amplifying, switching, mixing, or otherwise.

For example the digital signal processor 125 can be configured tomultiplex the audio signals from the microphones 11 to select themicrophone audio signals determined by the recording mode determiner 121and recording mode controller 123 in order to achieve the determinedrecording mode.

The operation of digital signal processing the audio signals is shown inFIG. 3 by step 210.

Furthermore the digital signal processor can then output the audiosignals which have been digitally processed.

The operation of outputting the processed audio signals is shown in FIG.3 by step 212.

With respect to FIGS. 4 to 9 a series of example microphoneconfigurations are shown. It would be understood that the microphonepositions in these figures are examples of possible microphone positionson the apparatus and the embodiments described herein exampleconfiguration selections based on these example possible positions. Thusin some other embodiments the microphone positions or locations candiffer from the example positions shown herein, yet the implementationof the apparatus and methods as described herein be similarly applied.Furthermore in the following examples the indication of the microphonemay be understood to be the microphone inlet or the port (through whichacoustic waves enter the apparatus to pass to the microphone transducer)rather than the microphone transducer itself. Thus for example (withrespect to FIG. 4) Mic 1 (or the microphone inlet or port) can belocated on the front surface or on the bottom surface or in the edgebetween the front and bottom surface. Similarly Mic 3 (or the microphoneinlet or port) could be left-right central. In other words the possibleconfigurations are determined by the relative location of themicrophones (inlets or ports) of which some examples are providedherein.

With respect to FIG. 4 an example 2-microphone apparatus or deviceimplementing embodiments as described herein is described in furtherdetail. In this and the further examples as shown herein the devicefront is defined with respect to the display 127 located approximatelycentrally on the front surface 310 of the apparatus or device.Furthermore the surface opposite to the front surface is defined in thisand the following examples as the rear surface 312. Furthermore in theexamples shown herein the first microphone Mic 1 301 defines atop-bottom orientation of the device or apparatus by being locatedtowards the ‘bottom’ of the front surface and therefore adjacent abottom edge or bottom surface 314. Furthermore with respect to theremaining surfaces, the surface or edge opposite the bottom surface oredge is the top surface 316, the surface or edge joining the top andbottom surface to the left of the front surface is the left-hand (side)surface (or edge) 318 and the surface to the right of the front surfaceis the right-hand (side) surface 320.

As shown in FIG. 4 the apparatus or device comprises a first microphoneMic 1 301 located on the front surface of the device, approximatelyleft-right central, and located towards the bottom of the device orapparatus, Furthermore the apparatus comprises a second microphone Mic 3303 also located on the front surface of the device or apparatus,located on the left side of the top of the device or apparatus. Theconfiguration of the microphones is such that when in landscapeorientation the configuration of the apparatus enables recording of thestereo signal using both microphones and when in portrait orientationenables recording of a mono signal using either microphone.

This apparatus or device can thus comprise a recording mode determinerwhich uses the following look-up table, where the priority columnindicates the priority of the recording mode and/or microphone selectionfor the orientation input indicating that the 1st priority for portraitorientation is mono recording using Mic 1 and the 2nd priority isportrait orientation is mono recording using Mic 3, the 1St priority forlandscape mode is stereo recording using Mic 1 and 2 and so on,

Apparatus Recording Microphone orientation Input Mode OutputSelection/Combination Priority Portrait Mono 1 1 Portrait Mono 3 2Landscape Stereo 1 + 3 1 Landscape Mono 1 2 Landscape Mono 3 3

The reason for this configuration is being the preferred solution isthat when the microphones are at the end of the apparatus and inportrait mode they are both in approximately in the same X-axis (inother words approximately vertically above each other and therefore donot have sufficient horizontal separation to accurately distinguishbetween signals in the Y-Z plane.

In some embodiments as described herein the recording mode determiner121 can be configured to use the input from the user interface input toinfluence the determination. For example with respect to FIG. 12 a userinterface preference display image is shown which can be used to providea suitable input to the recording mode determiner with respect toselecting whether the portrait orientation recording mode preference ismono or stereo recording. In the following examples the user interfacepreference display image shows the use of radio buttons for user inputselection, however it would be understood that any suitable selectionuser interface means can be displayed and used in embodiments,

The user interface display 1100 comprises two radio buttons, a first‘change to mono’ radio button 1101 which is set as the default optionfor the reasons as indicated herein and a second ‘maintain stereo’ radiobutton' 1103. The recording mode determiner 121 can in such embodimentswhen portrait orientation is determined by the orientation sensor 12 usethe user interface input to select whether the recording mode is mono orstereo. In other words recording mode determiner can apply an examplelook up table such as the following:

Apparatus User Interface Recording Microphone orientation InputRecording Preference Input Mode Output Selection/Combination PriorityPortrait Change to Mono Mono 1 1 Portrait Change to Mono Mono 3 2Portrait Maintain Stereo Stereo 1 + 3 1 Landscape Stereo 1 + 3 1Landscape Mono 1 2 Landscape Mono 3 3

FIG. 15 furthermore shows a flow diagram of the operating modes orsetting logic for a two microphone configuration as shown in FIG. 4.

In the following example the apparatus or device is recording orcapturing a stereo signal while in landscape orientation.

The step of the device being in landscape orientation capturing stereois shown in FIG. 15 by step 1301.

As described herein the orientation sensor 12 is configured to monitorfor orientation changes and specifically whether the orientation of thedevice changes to portrait orientation.

The check or determination of whether the orientation changes toportrait is shown in FIG. 15 by step 1307.

Where the orientation is not changed the flow diagram loops back to step1301 (the device remains in stereo recording mode in landscapeorientation.

Where the orientation changes to portrait the recording mode determinerchecks the user interface input recording preference or in other wordsthe user microphone settings. This can in some embodiments be aninternal check of the settings or initiate the display to show the userinterface output such as shown in FIG. 12 enabling the user to selectwhether the settings are to remain as the recommended mono mode ofrecording or to fix the recording mode as a stereo mode.

The operation of checking or retrieving the microphone settings orrecording mode preference is shown in FIG. 15 by step 1313.

In some embodiments the recording mode determiner 121 can be configuredto check the settings as whether they indicated the mono recording inportrait orientation is the preferred option.

The operation of checking whether mono recording or capture when theapparatus or device is in portrait orientation or mode is shown in FIG.15 by step 1315.

Where the settings show that mono recording in portrait mode is notselected then device is configured to operate to capture stereo audio inportrait orientation. in other words the stereo recording mode forportrait orientation parameters can be determined by the recording modecontroller 123 and the mic 1 and mic 3 inputs received, processed andoutput to be recorded or output.

The operation of the device in portrait orientation capturing stereosignals is shown in FIG. 15 by step 1303.

Where the settings show that mono recording in portrait mode is selectedthen the device is configured to operate to capture mono audio inportrait orientation.

The recording mode controller 123 can be configured in some embodimentsto get or determine microphone parameters for mono recording. These canfor example be digital signal processing parameters for selecting one orother of the microphones as the input or mixing parameters for mixingthe inputs.

The operation of getting or determining the microphone parameters formono recording is shown in FIG. 15 by step 1317.

In some embodiments the recording mode controller can use the userinterface output such as the display 127 to optionally inform the userthat mono recording is being used.

The operation of informing the user that mono capture use is inoperation is shown in FIG. 15 by step 1319.

The recording mode controller 123 can then apply the parameters for monorecording and therefore the device in portrait orientation is configuredto capture or record mono audio signals,

The operation of mono recording in portrait orientation is shown in FIG.15 by step 1305.

As described herein the orientation sensor 12 is configured to monitorfor orientation changes and whether the orientation of the devicechanges to landscape orientation from portrait.

The check or determination of whether the orientation changes fromportrait to landscape is shown in FIG. 15 by step 1309 where the deviceis recording in stereo as shown in step 1303, or by step 1311 where thedevice is recording in mono as shown in step 1305.

Where the determination does not detect a change to landscape then thedevice remains recording or capturing in stereo as shown in step 1303 orin mono as shown in step 1305, However when a change to landscape isdetected or determined then the recording mode determiner 121 candetermine a change in recording mode, and the recording mode controller123 can determine the stereo (or in some cases mono) recordingparameters and apply these such that the operation passes to step 1301where the device is in landscape orientation capturing stereo signals.

In some embodiments where the orientation sensor 12 detects ordetermines a change in the orientation from portrait to landscape therecording mode controller 123 can output to the user interface outputdisplay 127 an indication to the user that stereo capture is beingapplied.

The operation of displaying to the user that stereo recording is beingapplied is shown in FIG. 15 by step 1312.

With respect to FIG. 5 a first 3-microphone configuration apparatus ordevice implementing embodiments as described herein is described infurther detail, The 3-microphone apparatus, configuration A (3A),features apparatus comprising a first microphone Mic 1 301 located onthe front surface of the device, approximately left-right central, andlocated towards the bottom of the device or apparatus. Furthermore theapparatus comprises a second microphone Mic 3 303 also located on thefront surface of the device or apparatus, located on the left side ofthe top of the device or apparatus and a third microphone Mic 5 401located on the rear or back surface of the apparatus (opposite thesecond microphone Mic 3 303),

The configuration of the microphones is such that when in landscapeorientation the configuration of the apparatus enables surround soundrecording using Mic 1 301, Mic 3 303, and Mc 5 401 or stereo signalusing Mic 1 301 and either Mc 3 303 or Mic 5 401 and when in portraitorientation enables mono recording using either Mc 1 301, Mic 3 303 orMc 5 401.

This apparatus or device can thus comprise a recording mode determinerwhich uses the following look-up table, where the priority columnindicates the priority of the recording mode and/or microphone selectionfor the orientation input.

Apparatus Recording Microphone orientation Input Mode OutputSelection/Combination Priority Portrait Mono 1 1 Portrait Mono 3 2Portrait Mono 5 3 Landscape Surround 1 + 3 + 5 1 Landscape Stereo 1 + 32 Landscape Stereo 1 + 5 3 Landscape Mono 1 4 Landscape Mono 3 5Landscape Mono 5 6

The reason for this configuration is being the preferred solution isthat the microphones are at the ends of the apparatus and in portraitmode they are all approximately at the same X-coordinate (in other wordsapproximately vertically above each other and therefore do not havesufficient horizontal separation to accurately distinguish betweensignals in the Y-Z plane.

In some embodiments as described herein the recording mode determiner121 can be configured to use the input from the user interface input toinfluence the determination. For example with respect to FIG. 13 a userinterface preference display image is shown which can be used to providea suitable input to the recording mode determiner with respect toselecting whether the portrait orientation recording mode preference ismono, stereo or surround recording.

The user interface display 1250 comprises three radio buttons, a first‘change to mono’ radio button 1251 which is set as the default optionfor the reasons as indicated herein, a second ‘maintain surround sound’radio button 1253, and a third ‘change to stereo’ radio button 1255. Therecording mode determiner 121 can in such embodiments when portraitorientation is determined by the orientation sensor 12 use the userinterface input to select whether the recording mode is changed to mono,stereo or maintained as being surround sound. In other words a partialrecording mode determiner look up table for portrait orientation can bethe following:

Apparatus orientation Input User Interface Recording Preference InputRecording Mode Output Microphone

Apparatus User Interface Recording Microphone orientation InputRecording Preference Input Mode Output Selection/Combination PriorityPortrait Change to Mono Mono 1 1 Portrait Change to Mono Mono 3 2Portrait Change to Mono Mono 5 3 Portrait Change to Stereo Stereo 1 + 31 Portrait Change to Stereo Stereo 1 + 5 2 Portrait Maint. SurroundSurround 1 + 3 + 5 1

FIG. 16 furthermore shows a flow diagram of the operating modes orsetting logic for a three microphone configuration (Configuration 3A) asshown in FIG. 5.

In the following example the apparatus or device is recording orcapturing a surround sound signal while in landscape orientation.

The step of the device being in landscape orientation capturing surroundsound is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1351.

As described herein the orientation sensor 12 is configured to monitorfor orientation changes and specifically whether the orientation of thedevice changes to portrait orientation.

The check or determination of whether the orientation changes toportrait is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1357.

Where the orientation is not changed the flow diagram loops back to step1351 (the device remains in surround sound recording mode in landscapeorientation.

Where the orientation changes to portrait the recording mode determinerchecks the user interface input recording preference or in other wordsthe user microphone settings. This can in some embodiments be aninternal check of the settings or initiate the display to show the userinterface output such as shown in FIG. 13 enabling the user to selectwhether the settings are to change to the recommended mono mode ofrecording or to fix the recording mode as stereo or surround soundmodes.

The operation of checking or retrieving the microphone settings orrecording mode preference is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1363.

In some embodiments the recording mode determiner 121 can be configuredto check the settings as whether they indicated the mono recording inportrait orientation is the preferred option.

The operation of checking whether mono recording or capture when theapparatus or device is in portrait orientation or mode is shown in FIG.16 by step 1365.

Where the settings show that mono recording in portrait mode is notselected then the recording mode determiner 121 can be configured tocheck the settings as whether they indicated the stereo recording inportrait orientation is the preferred option.

The operation of checking whether stereo recording or capture when theapparatus or device is in portrait orientation or mode is shown in FIG.16 by step 1366.

Where the settings show that neither mono recording nor stereo recordingare the preferred options the device is configured to operate to capturesurround sound audio in portrait orientation. In other words thesurround sound recording mode for portrait orientation parameters can bedetermined by the recording mode controller 123 and the Mic 1, Mic 3 andMic 5 inputs received, processed and output to be recorded or output.

The operation of the device in portrait orientation capturing surroundsound signals is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1353.

Where the settings show that stereo recording in portrait mode is thepreferred option selected then the device is configured to operate tocapture stereo audio in portrait orientation.

The recording mode controller 123 can be configured in some embodimentsto get or determine microphone parameters for stereo recording. Thesecan for example be digital signal processing parameters for selectingtwo of the microphones as the input.

The operation of getting or determining the microphone parameters forstereo recording is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1368.

In some embodiments the recording mode controller can use the userinterface output such as the display 127 to optionally inform the userthat stereo recording is being used.

The operation of informing the user that stereo capture use is inoperation is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1370.

The recording mode controller 123 can then apply the parameters forstereo recording and therefore the device in portrait orientation isconfigured to capture or record stereo audio signals.

The operation of stereo recording in portrait orientation is shown inFIG. 16 by step 1372.

Where the settings show that mono recording in portrait mode is selectedthen the device is configured to operate to capture mono audio inportrait orientation.

The recording mode controller 123 can be configured in some embodimentsto get or determine microphone parameters for mono recording. These canfor example be digital signal processing parameters for selecting one ofthe three microphones as the input or mixing parameters for mixing theinputs.

The operation of getting or determining the microphone parameters formono recording is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1367.

In some embodiments the recording mode controller can use the userinterface output such as the display 127 to optionally inform the userthat mono recording is being used.

The operation of informing the user that mono capture use is inoperation is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1369.

The recording mode controller 123 can then apply the parameters for monorecording and therefore the device in portrait orientation is configuredto capture or record mono audio signals.

The operation of mono recording in portrait orientation is shown in FIG.16 by step 1355,

As described herein the orientation sensor 12 is configured to monitorfor orientation changes and whether the orientation of the devicechanges to landscape orientation from portrait.

The check or determination of whether the orientation changes fromportrait to landscape is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1359 where the deviceis recording in surround sound as shown in step 1353, or by step 1361where the device is recording in mono as shown in step 1355, or by step1374 where the device is recording in stereo as shown in step 1372.

Where the determination does not detect a change to landscape then thedevice remains recording or capturing in surround as shown in step 1353or in mono as shown in step 1355, or in stereo as shown in step 1372.However when a change to landscape is detected or determined then therecording mode determiner 121 can determine a change in recording mode,and the recording mode controller 123 can determine the surround sound(or in some cases stereo or mono) recording parameters and apply thesesuch that the operation passes to step 1351 where the device is inlandscape orientation capturing surround sound signals.

In some embodiments where the orientation sensor 12 detects ordetermines a change in the orientation from portrait to landscape therecording mode controller 123 can output to the user interface outputdisplay 127 an indication to the user that surround sound capture isbeing applied.

The operation of displaying to the user that stereo recording is beingapplied is shown in FIG. 16 by step 1362.

A second 3-microphone apparatus configuration (configuration 3B) isshown in FIG. 6. The 3-microphone apparatus, (3B), features apparatuscomprising a first microphone Mic 1 301 located on the front surface ofthe device, approximately left-right central, and located towards thebottom of the device or apparatus. Furthermore the apparatus comprises asecond microphone Mic 3 303 also located on the front surface of thedevice or apparatus, located on the left side of the top of the deviceor apparatus and a third microphone Mic 4 501 located on the right-hand(side) surface 320 and located towards the top of the device (but not asclose to the top edge as the second microphone Mic 3 303).

The location of the third microphone Mic 4 501 relative to the first andsecond microphones is such that when in landscape orientation the deviceor apparatus can record stereo sound using Mic 1 301 and Mic 3 303,stereo sound using Mic 1 301 and Mic 4 501, and when in portraitorientation also record stereo sound using Mic 3 303 and Mic 4 501.

A partial lookup table for the 3B configuration can thus be as follows:

Apparatus Recording Microphone orientation Input Mode OutputSelection/Combination Priority Portrait Stereo 3 + 4 1 Portrait Mono 1 2Portrait Mono 3 3 Portrait Mono 4 4 Landscape Stereo 1 + 3 1 LandscapeStereo 1 + 4 2 Landscape Mono 1 3 Landscape Mono 3 4 Landscape Mono 4 5

In some embodiments as described herein the recording mode determiner121 can be configured to use the input from the user interface input toinfluence the determination. However in the 3B configuration as bothlandscape and portrait orientations can record stereo the optionsprovided can in some embodiments whether to record in stereo or mono.

With respect to FIG. 7 a first example 4-microphone configurationapparatus or device implementing embodiments as described herein isdescribed in further detail. The 4-microphone apparatus, configuration A(4A), features apparatus comprising a first microphone Mic 1 301 locatedon the front surface of the device, approximately left-right central,and located towards the bottom of the device or apparatus. Furthermorethe apparatus comprises a second microphone Mic 3 303 also located onthe front surface of the device or apparatus, located on the left sideof the top of the device or apparatus. The apparatus further comprises athird microphone Mic 2 601 located on the rear or back surface of theapparatus (opposite the first microphone Mic 1 301) and a fourthmicrophone Mic 4 501 located on the right-hand (side) surface 320 andlocated towards the top of the device (but not as close to the top edgeas the second microphone Mic 3 303).

The location of the third and fourth microphones Mic 2 601 and Mic 4 501relative to the first and second microphones is such that when inlandscape orientation the device or apparatus can record surround soundusing Mic 1 301, Mic 2 601 and Mic 3 303, stereo sound using Mic 1 301and Mic 3 303, or Mic 2 601 and Mic 3 303 and when in portraitorientation also record stereo sound using Mic 3 303 and Mic 4 501.

A partial lookup table for the 4A configuration can thus be as follows:

Apparatus Recording Microphone orientation Input Mode OutputSelection/Combination Priority Portrait Stereo 3 + 4 1 Portrait Mono 1 1Portrait Mono 2 2 Portrait Mono 3 3 Portrait Mono 4 4 Landscape Surround1 + 2 + 3 1 Landscape Stereo 1 + 3 1 Landscape Stereo 2 + 3 2 LandscapeMono 1 1 Landscape Mono 2 2 Landscape Mono 3 3 Landscape Mono 4 4

In some embodiments as described herein the recording mode determiner121 can be configured to use the input from the user interface input toinfluence the determination. For example with respect to FIG. 14 a userinterface preference display image is shown which can be used to providea suitable input to the recording mode determiner with respect toselecting whether the portrait orientation recording mode preference issurround sound or stereo recording.

The user interface display 1200 comprises two radio buttons, a first‘change to stereo’ radio button 1201 which is set as the default optionfor the reasons as indicated herein and a second ‘maintain surroundsound’ radio button 1203. The recording mode determiner 121 can in suchembodiments when portrait orientation is determined by the orientationsensor 12 use the user interface input to select whether the recordingmode is stereo or surround sound, In other words recording modedeterminer can apply an example partial look up table such as thefollowing:

Apparatus User Interface Recording Microphone orientation InputRecording Preference Input Mode Output Selection/Combination PriorityPortrait Change to stereo Stereo 3 + 4 1 Portrait Maint. SurroundSurround Sound 1 + 2 + 3 1

FIG. 17 furthermore shows a flow diagram of the operating modes orsetting logic for a 4-microphone configuration as shown in FIG. 7 andusing user input.

In the following example the apparatus or device is recording orcapturing a surround sound signal while in landscape orientation,

The step of the device being in landscape orientation capturing surroundsound is shown in FIG. 17 by step 1401.

As described herein the orientation sensor 12 is configured to monitorfor orientation changes and specifically whether the orientation of thedevice changes to portrait orientation.

The check or determination of whether the orientation changes toportrait is shown in FIG. 17 by step 1407.

Where the orientation is not changed the flow diagram loops back to step1401 (the device remains in surround sound recording mode in landscapeorientation.

Where the orientation changes to portrait the recording mode determinerchecks the user interface input recording preference or in other wordsthe user microphone settings. This can in some embodiments be aninternal check of the settings or initiate the display to show the userinterface output such as shown in FIG. 12 enabling the user to selectwhether the settings are to remain as the recommended stereo mode ofrecording or to fix the recording mode as a surround sound recordingmode.

The operation of checking or retrieving the microphone settings orrecording mode preference is shown in FIG. 17 by step 1413.

In some embodiments the recording mode determiner 121 can be configuredto check the settings as whether they indicated the stereo recording inportrait orientation is the preferred option.

The operation of checking whether stereo recording (or capture) when theapparatus (or device) is in portrait orientation (or mode) is shown inFIG. 17 by step 1415.

Where the settings show that stereo recording in portrait mode is notselected then device is configured to operate to capture surround soundaudio in portrait orientation. In other words the surround soundrecording mode for portrait orientation parameters can be determined bythe recording mode controller 123 and the Mic 1, Mic 2 and Mic 3 inputs(or in some embodiments Mic 1, Mic 3 and Mic 4 inputs) are received,processed and output to be recorded or output.

The operation of the device in portrait orientation capturing surroundsound signals is shown in

FIG. 17 by step 1403.

Where the settings show that stereo recording in portrait mode isselected then the device is configured to operate to capture stereoaudio in portrait orientation.

The recording mode controller 123 can be configured in some embodimentsto get or determine microphone parameters for stereo recording. Thesecan for example be digital signal processing parameters for selectingone pair of the microphones as the input or mixing parameters for mixingthe inputs.

The operation of getting or determining the microphone parameters forstereo recording is shown in FIG. 17 by step 1417.

In some embodiments the recording mode controller can use the userinterface output such as the display 127 to optionally inform the userthat stereo recording is being used.

The operation of informing the user that stereo capture use is inoperation is shown in FIG. 17 by step 1419.

The recording mode controller 123 can then apply the parameters forstereo recording and therefore the device in portrait orientation isconfigured to capture or record stereo audio signals.

The operation of stereo recording in portrait orientation is shown inFIG. 17 by step 1405.

As described herein the orientation sensor 12 is configured to monitorfor orientation changes and whether the orientation of the devicechanges to landscape orientation from portrait.

The check or determination of whether the orientation changes fromportrait to landscape is shown in FIG. 17 by step 1409 where the deviceis recording in surround sound as shown in step 1403, or by step 1411where the device is recording in stereo as shown in step 1405.

Where the determination does not detect a change to landscape then thedevice remains recording or capturing in surround sound as shown in step1403 or in stereo as shown in step 1405: However when a change tolandscape is detected or determined then the recording mode determiner121 can determine a change in recording mode, and the recording modecontroller 123 can determine the surround sound (or in some cases stereoor mono) recording parameters and apply these such that the operationpasses to step 1401 where the device is in landscape orientationcapturing surround sound signals.

In some embodiments where the orientation sensor 12 detects ordetermines a change in the orientation from portrait to landscape therecording mode controller 123 can output to the user interface outputdisplay 127 an indication to the user that surround sound capture isbeing applied.

The operation of displaying to the user that surround sound recording isbeing applied is shown in FIG. 17 by step 1412.

With respect to FIG. 8 a second 4-microphone apparatus configuration(configuration 4B) is shown where the apparatus comprises a firstmicrophone Mic 1 301 located on the front surface of the device,approximately left-right central, and located towards the bottom of thedevice or apparatus. Furthermore the apparatus comprises a secondmicrophone Mic 3 303 also located on the front surface of the device orapparatus, located on the left side of the top of the device orapparatus. Furthermore the apparatus comprises a third microphone Mic 2601 located on the rear or back surface of the apparatus (opposite thefirst microphone Mic 1 301) and a fourth microphone Mic 5 401 located onthe rear or back surface of the apparatus (opposite the secondmicrophone Mic 3 303).

The configuration of the microphones is such that when in landscapeorientation the configuration of the apparatus enables surround soundrecording using any combination of Mic 1 301, Mic 2 601, Mic 3 303, andMic 5 401 or stereo signal using Mic 1 301 or Mic 2 601 and either Mic 3303 or Mic 5 401 and when in portrait orientation enables mono recordingusing any of Mic 1 301, Mic 2601, Mic 3 303 or Mic 5 401.

This apparatus or device can thus comprise a recording mode determinerwhich uses the following partially complete look-up table, where thepriority column indicates the priority of the recording mode and/ormicrophone selection for the orientation input.

In some embodiments as described herein the recording mode determiner121 can be configured to use the input from the user interface input toinfluence the determination. For example a user interface preferencedisplay image such as shown in FIG. 14 could be used which can be usedto provide a suitable input to the recording mode determiner with theoption of mono being preferred over stereo or surround sound.

With respect to FIG. 9 a third 4-microphone configuration apparatus ordevice implementing embodiments as described herein is described infurther detail. The 4-microphone apparatus, configuration C (4C),features apparatus comprising a first microphone Mic 1 301 located onthe front surface of the device, approximately left-right central, andlocated towards the bottom of the device or apparatus. Furthermore theapparatus comprises a second microphone Mic 3 303 also located on thefront surface of the device or apparatus, located on the left side ofthe top of the device or apparatus. The apparatus further comprises athird microphone Mic 5 401 located on the rear or back surface of theapparatus (opposite the second microphone Mic 3 303) and a fourthmicrophone Mic 4 501 located on the right-hand (side) surface 320 andlocated towards the top of the device (but not as close to the top edgeas the second microphone Mic 3 303).

The location of the third and fourth microphones Mic 5 401 and Mic 4 501relative to the first and second microphones is such that when inlandscape orientation the device or apparatus can record surround soundusing Mic 1 301, Mic 3 303 and Mic 5 401, stereo sound using Mic 1 301and Mic 3 303, or Mic 1 301 and Mic 5 401 and when in portraitorientation record surround sound using Mic 3 303, Mic 4 501 and Mic 5401 and also record stereo sound using Mic 3 303 and Mic 4 501 or Mic 5401 and Mic 4 501.

A partial lookup table for the 4C configuration can thus be as follows(the following partial lookup tables have dropped the mono recordingmode output entries to reduce the number of rows but would be understoodas being found in some embodiments in the full lookup table):

Apparatus Recording Microphone orientation Input Mode OutputSelection/Combination Priority Portrait Surround 3 + 4 + 5 1 PortraitStereo 3 + 4 1 Portrait Stereo 5 + 4 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . LandscapeSurround 1 + 3 + 5 1 Landscape Stereo 1 + 3 1 Landscape Stereo 1 + 5 2 .. . . . . . . . . . .

In some embodiments as described herein the recording mode determiner121 can be configured to use the input from the user interface input toinfluence the determination. However in the 40 configuration, as bothlandscape and portrait orientations can record surround sound, thedefault option provided can in some embodiments be surround sound withthe further option to select to record in stereo or mono.

With respect to FIG. 10 an example 5-microphone configuration apparatusor device implementing embodiments as described herein is described infurther detail. The 5-microphone apparatus features apparatus comprisinga first microphone Mic 1 301 located on the front surface of the device,approximately left-right central, and located towards the bottom of thedevice or apparatus. Furthermore the apparatus comprises a secondmicrophone Mic 3 303 also located on the front surface of the device orapparatus, located on the left side of the top of the device orapparatus. The apparatus further comprises a third microphone Mic 2 601located on the rear or back surface of the apparatus (opposite the firstmicrophone Mic 1 301), a fourth microphone Mic 5 401 located on the rearor back surface of the apparatus (opposite the second microphone Mic 3303, and a fifth microphone Mic 4 601 located on the right-hand (side)surface 320 and located towards the top of the device (but not as closeto the top edge as the second microphone Mic 3 303).

The configuration of the microphones is such that when in landscapeorientation the configuration of the apparatus enables surround soundrecording using any suitable combination of Mic 1 301, Mic 2 601, Mic 3303, and Mic 5 401 or stereo signal using Mic 1 301 or Mic 2 601 and Mic3 303 or Mic 5 401 and when in portrait orientation enables surroundsound recording using Mic 3 303, Mic 4 501 and Mic 5 401 and stereousing Mic 3 303 and Mic 4 501 or Mic 5 401 and Mic 4 501.

This apparatus or device can thus comprise a recording mode determinerwhich uses the following partially complete look-up table, where thepriority column indicates the priority of the recording mode and/ormicrophone selection for the orientation input.

Apparatus Recording Microphone orientation Input Mode OutputSelection/Combination Priority Portrait Surround 3 + 4 + 5 1 PortraitStereo 3 + 4 1 Portrait Stereo 5 + 4 2 Portrait Mono 1 1 Portrait Mono 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . Landscape Surround 1 + 3 + 5 1 LandscapeSurround 1 + 2 + 5 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Landscape Stereo 1 + 3 1Landscape Stereo 1 + 5 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Landscape Mono 1 1Landscape Mono 2 2 . . . . . . . . . . . .

In some embodiments as described herein the recording mode determiner121 can be configured to use the input from the user interface input toinfluence the determination. However in the 5-microphone configuration,as both landscape and portrait orientations can record surround sound,the default option provided can in some embodiments be surround soundwith the further option to select to record in stereo or mono.

With respect to FIG. 11 an example 6-microphone configuration apparatusor device implementing embodiments as described herein is described infurther detail. The 6-microphone apparatus features apparatus comprisinga first microphone Mic 1 301 located on the front surface of the device,and approximately to the right of the central line, and located towardsthe bottom of the device or apparatus. Furthermore the apparatuscomprises a second microphone Mic 3 303 also located on the frontsurface of the device or apparatus, located on the left side of the topof the device or apparatus. The apparatus further comprises a thirdmicrophone Mic 2 601 located on the rear or back surface of theapparatus (opposite the first microphone Mic 1 301), a fourth microphoneMic 5 401 located on the rear or back surface of the apparatus (oppositethe second microphone Mic 3 303, a fifth microphone Mic 4 501 located onthe right-hand (side) surface 320 and located towards the top of thedevice (but not as close to the top edge as the second microphone Mic 3303), and a sixth microphone Mic 6 1001 located on the left-hand (side)surface 318 and located towards the bottom of the device (but not asdose to the bottom edge as the second microphone Mic 1 301).

In some embodiments the configuration as shown in FIG. 11 shows that themicrophones are configured with 180 degree rotational symmetry throughthe front and rear surfaces. In other words the placing the device rearor front surface on a table and rotating the device 180 degrees wouldproduce an identical microphone configuration.

The configuration of the microphones is such that when in landscapeorientation the configuration of the apparatus enables surround soundrecording using any suitable combination of Mic 1 301, Mic 2 601, Mic 3303, and Mic 5 401 or stereo signal using Mic 1 301 or Mic 2 601 and Mic3 303 or Mic 5 401. When in portrait up orientation the configuration ofthe microphones enables surround sound recording using Mic 3 303, Mic 4501 and Mic 5 401 and stereo using Mic 3 303 and Mic 4 501 or Mic 5 401and Mic 4 501. Furthermore when in portrait down orientation theconfiguration of the microphones enables surround sound recording usingMic 1 301, Mic 2 601 and Mic 6 1001 and stereo using Mc 1 301 and Mic 61001 or Mic 2 601 and Mic 6 1001.

This apparatus or device can thus comprise a recording mode determinerwhich uses the following partially complete look-up table whereorientation is now defined with respect to landscape, portrait withdevice top directed upwards, and portrait with device top directeddownwards, and where the priority column indicates the priority of therecording mode and/or microphone selection for the orientation input.

Apparatus Recording Microphone orientation Input Mode OutputSelection/Combination Priority Portrait-u Surround 3 + 4 + 5 1Portrait-u Stereo 3 + 4 1 Portrait-u Stereo 5 + 4 2 Portrait-u Mono 1 1Portrait-u Mono 2 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Portrait-d Surround 1 + 2 +6 1 Portrait-d Stereo 1 + 6 1 Portrait-d Stereo 2 + 6 2 Portrait-d Mono1 1 Portrait-d Mono 2 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Landscape Surround 1 +3 + 5 1 Landscape Surround 1 + 2 + 5 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . LandscapeStereo 1 + 3 1 Landscape Stereo 1 + 5 2 . . . . . . . . . . . .Landscape Mono 1 1 Landscape Mono 2 2 . . . . . . . . . . . .

In some embodiments as described herein the recording mode determiner121 can be configured to use the input from the user interface input toinfluence the determination. However in the 6-microphone configuration,as both landscape and both portrait orientations can record surroundsound, the default option provided can in some embodiments be surroundsound with the further option to select to record in stereo or mono.

In some embodiments the apparatus or device can be configured to performdual track audio recording or capture. Thus for example in a2-microphone configuration apparatus, such as shown in FIG. 4, a firsttrack can be recorded as a stereo recording. In some embodiments thestereo signal may be encoded as an Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) format.Furthermore the second track can record a mono or mixed mono track. Insome embodiments the first track can be recorded as a stereo/AAC formatsignal when the device is portrait orientated or when the recording modeis switched to mono recording the first track output can be double (ordual) mono (in other words a mono channel recording from either of thetwo microphones duplicated to the other channel).

With respect to FIGS. 18 and 19 the operation of change of orientationwith respect to video recording is shown. For example the typicaloperation of the apparatus or device is such that during video recordingwhere the orientation of the apparatus or device is changed duringrecording, the video is rotated accordingly. Thus as shown in FIGS. 19and 18 the apparatus 10 when recording while in a landscape orientation1701 produces a landscape ratio image 1711. When the apparatus changesorientation to portrait orientation 1703 the video track is typicallyfollowing the orientation change and the image records in portrait mode1811 such as shown in FIG. 19 rather than as shown in FIG. 18maintaining a landscape recording mode 1711.

With respect to FIG. 20 an example microphone configuration is shown inboth landscape and portrait orientation. The microphone configuration asshown in FIG. 20 is a three microphone configuration with a bottom frontcentral microphone 1905 (in portrait orientation, right front central inlandscape orientation), a top front central microphone 1903 (in portraitorientation, left front central in landscape orientation) and a top backcentral microphone 1901 (in portrait orientation, left back central inlandscape orientation). It would be understood that such a configurationenables in landscape orientation surround sound capture or recording asthere is sufficient (left-right separation between microphones), but inportrait there is no significant (left-right) separation to enablesurround sound recording or even stereo recording.

In some embodiments where the settings (for example the user settings asdescribed herein or the predefined or defined settings stored in theapparatus) indicate that in portrait orientation the device shouldchange to mono recording, the switching between recording modes due toorientation change from landscape to portrait can be performed by endingthe previous audio track (a surround sound track) and starting a newtrack (a mono sound track). This can be visualized with respect to FIG.22 where a video track 2101 is recorded and while the apparatus isoperating in landscape mode a surround sound track 2103 is also beingrecorded. When the event of orientation change from landscape toportrait is detected 2110 then the surround sound track 2103 is endedand the new mono track 2105 started. This track change can technicallybe achieved for example using a MP4 file format by using a Edit ListBox.

With respect to FIG. 23 a further example track arrangement is shown fora similar apparatus 3-microphone configuration. In some embodimentswhere the settings (for example the user settings as described herein orthe predefined or defined settings stored in the apparatus) indicatingthat in portrait orientation the device should change to mono recordingdue to orientation change from landscape to portrait can implement thischange by using one of the microphones (used in the landscapeorientation with the other two microphones to record the surround soundtrack) to record a mono track and generate a surround sound trackupmixed from the mono source. For example as shown in FIG. 23 where avideo track 2101 is recorded and while the apparatus is operating inlandscape mode a surround sound track 2201 is output with for example a5.1 track 2211 output. When the event of orientation change fromlandscape to portrait is detected 2110 then the surround sound 5.1 track2211 output converts into the surround sound track upmixed from the monosource 2213. In this example there is one audio track, however it wouldbe understood that there could be more than one audio track beingrecorded.

With respect to FIG. 24 a multiple track extension of the example trackarrangement shown in

FIG. 22 for a similar apparatus 3-microphone configuration is shown. Inthis example the settings (for example the user settings as describedherein or the predefined or defined settings stored in the apparatus)indicate that in portrait orientation the device should change to monorecording when switching between recording modes due to orientationchange from landscape to portrait. This change can be implemented byending the previous audio >1 channel tracks (such as a surround soundtrack, or stereo track) and starting a new mono track. This can bevisualized with respect to FIG. 24 where a video track 2101 is recordedand while the apparatus is operating in landscape mode a surround soundtrack 2301 and stereo track 2303 are being recorded. When the event oforientation change from landscape to portrait is detected 2110 then thesurround sound track 2301 and the stereo track 2303 are ended and a newmono track 2305 started. This track change can technically be achievedas described herein for example by using a MP4 file format by using aEdit List Box.

With respect to FIG. 25 an multiple track extension of the example trackarrangement shown in FIG. 23 for a similar apparatus 3-microphoneconfiguration is shown. In such an example the settings define that inportrait orientation the device should change to mono recording due toorientation change from landscape to portrait. This change can beimplemented by using one of the microphones (used in the landscapeorientation with the other two microphones to record the surround soundtrack or stereo track) to record a mono track and generate the outputchannels by upmixing the mono source. For example as shown in FIG. 25where a video track 2101 is recorded and while the apparatus isoperating in landscape mode a surround sound track 2401 is output withfor example a 5.1 track 2411 output. When the event of orientationchange from landscape to portrait is detected 2110 then the surroundsound 5.1 track 2411 output converts into the surround sound outputupmixed mono source 2413, Similarly when operating in landscape mode astereo track 2403 is output with a full stereo track 2421 output. Whenthe event of orientation change from landscape to portrait is detected2110 then the full or real stereo track 2421 output converts into astereo output from the upmixed mono source 2423.

With respect to FIG. 21 an example 4-microphone configuration is shownin landscape. The microphone configuration as shown in FIG. 21 is a fourmicrophone configuration with a right front central microphone 2005 inlandscape orientation (bottom front central in portrait orientation), aright back central microphone 2007 in landscape orientation (bottom backcentral microphone in portrait orientation), a left'ish front topmicrophone 2003 (top'ish, front, right microphone in portraitorientation) and a left, front bottom'ish microphone 2001 (top, front,left'ish microphone in portrait orientation). It would be understoodthat such a configuration enables in landscape orientation surroundsound and stereo capture or recording as there is sufficient (left-rightseparation between microphones), and in portrait there is separation toenable stereo but not surround sound recording.

With respect to FIG. 26 an example track arrangement is shown for theapparatus 4-microphone configuration where the settings indicate that inportrait orientation the device should change microphones in stereorecording and stop surround sound recording (and in some embodimentsenable ‘stereo’ recording upmixed from mono or mono source recordingssimilar to the operations shown in FIGS. 22 and 23). For example asshown in FIG. 26 where a video track 2101 is recorded and while theapparatus is operating in landscape mode a surround sound track 2501 isoutput and a stereo track 2503 is output using a first combination ofmicrophones (shown as configuration 2511). When the event of orientationchange from landscape to portrait is detected 2110 then the surroundsound track 2501 output track ends. Furthermore when the event oforientation change from landscape to portrait is detected 2110 then thestereo track 2503 continues but a new microphone configuration isselected (shown by event 2512) and a second portrait stereo microphoneconfiguration is used as shown by configuration 2513.

In some embodiments where surround sound cannot be recorded or capturedafter the apparatus orientation has changed the device can be configuredto, as shown in FIG. 22, end the surround sound track. In someembodiments such as shown in FIG. 23 the surround sound track can be‘simulated’ by recording a mono or stereo and generating an outputmultichannel format upmixed from the mono or stereo source, for examplea 5.1 channel output format generated from an upmixed mono or stereorecorded signal. In some embodiments the surround sound track output canbe generated by recording or capture a stereo track and outputing thetwo channels as the front channels of the multichannel system, forexample recording stereo channels and using these as the 5.1 track frontchannels. Similarly in some embodiments the surround sound track outputcan be generated by recording or capture a mono track and outputing thesingle channel as the centre channel of the multichannel system, forexample recording a mono channel and using this as the 5.1 centrechannel. In some embodiments the surround sound track output can begenerated by not recording or recording silence and outputting thesilence as the multichannel output, for example outputing 5.1 channelsof no signal or silence.

Thus orientation change operations can be summarised as where the deviceorientation changes when audio is being recorded and the microphonelocations in the new orientation do not support all the channelconfigurations supported in the previous orientation, then the apparatuscan be configured to perform: ending the previous audio track(s) andstart new one(s) with the new channel configuration(s); or continuingthe previous audio track(s) when applicable and upmixing from thereduced input channels; or continuing the previous audio track(s) whenapplicable and changing the microphones to be used for those track(s);or any combination of the three options.

Furthermore it would be understood that in some embodiments that any anddifference options can be applied individually for each track. In otherwords there may be a different options available for each track.

It shall be appreciated that the electronic device 10 may be any deviceincorporating an audio recordal system for example a type of wirelessuser equipment, such as mobile telephones, portable data processingdevices or portable web browsers, as well as wearable devices.

In general, the various embodiments of the invention may be implementedin hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or anycombination thereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented inhardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or softwarewhich may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computingdevice, although the invention is not limited thereto. While variousaspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as blockdiagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, itis well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques ormethods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limitingexamples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits orlogic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computingdevices, or some combination thereof.

The embodiments of this invention may be implemented by computersoftware executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as inthe processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of softwareand hardware. Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocksof the logic flow as in the Figures may represent program steps, orinterconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination ofprogram steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions.

The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, ormemory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such ashard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD andthe data variants thereof, CD.

The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technicalenvironment and may be implemented using any suitable data storagetechnology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memorydevices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memoryand removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable tothe local technical environment, and may include one or more of generalpurpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digitalsignal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits(ASIC), gate level circuits and processors based on multi-core processorarchitecture, as non-limiting examples.

Embodiments of the inventions may be practiced in various componentssuch as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits isby and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful softwaretools are available for converting a logic level design into asemiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on asemiconductor substrate.

Programs, such as those provided by Synopsys, Inc. of Mountain View,Calif. and Cadence Design, of San Jose, Calif. automatically routeconductors and locate components on a semiconductor chip using wellestablished rules of design as well as libraries of pre-stored designmodules. Once the design for a semiconductor circuit has been completed,the resultant design, in a standardized electronic format (e.g., Opus,GDSII, or the like) may be transmitted to a semiconductor fabricationfacility or “fab” for fabrication.

The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary andnon-limiting examples a full and informative description of theexemplary embodiment of this invention. However, various modificationsand adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevantarts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such andsimilar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fallwithin the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

1.-19. (canceled)
 20. A method comprising: providing a device having amicrophone configuration, wherein the microphone configuration comprisesat least two microphones located relative to each other with respect tothe device; providing a plurality of recording modes, wherein eachrecording mode of the plurality of recording modes comprises selectingat least one microphone of the at least two microphones; determining anorientation of the device, wherein the device is configured to be usedin at least one of the determined orientations: a landscape orientation;or a portrait orientation; determining a recording mode; determining theat least one microphone of the at least two microphones for useaccording to the recording mode and the determined orientation; andprocessing at least one microphone signal from the determined at leastone microphone.
 21. The method as claimed in claim 20, furthercomprising: outputting, to a computer interface, a user interface thatis configured to enable selection of the recording mode or one or moreother recording modes comprising surround sound recording, stereorecording mode, or mono recording mode.
 22. The method as claimed inclaim 20, further comprising: determining a change to the orientation ofthe device; determining that the at least one microphone of the at leasttwo microphones is unsupported for use according to the determinedchange to the orientation of the device; and responsive to thedetermined unsupported use, configuring at least one audio track with amicrophone configuration based on the determined change to theorientation of the device.
 23. The method as claimed in claim 20,wherein determining the recording mode comprises: providing the surroundsound recording mode responsive to determining the landscape orientationof the device; and providing the stereo sound recording mode responsiveto determining the portrait orientation of the device.
 24. The method asclaimed in claim 20, wherein determining the recording mode comprises:providing the stereo sound recording mode using the at least twomicrophones responsive to determining the landscape orientation of thedevice; and providing the mono sound recording mode using the at leastone microphone of the at least two microphones responsive to determiningthe portrait orientation of the device.
 25. The method as claimed inclaim 20, wherein determining the at least one microphone comprises:responsive to determining the orientation of the device, enablingselection of one or more of the at least two microphones based on thedetermined orientation of the device.
 26. The method as claimed in claim20, wherein determining the at least one microphone comprises: enablingselection of one or more of the at least two microphones according to apriority determination protocol which assigns priority selection of theat least two microphones according to the recording mode and thedetermined orientation.
 27. An apparatus comprising at least oneprocessor and at least one memory including computer code for one ormore programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configuredwith the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to at least:determine an orientation of a device having a microphone configurationcomprising at least two microphones located relative to each other withrespect to the device, wherein the device is configured to be used in atleast one of the determined orientations: a landscape orientation; or aportrait orientation; determine a recording mode from among a pluralityof recording modes, wherein each recording mode of the plurality ofrecording modes comprises selecting at least one microphone of the atleast two microphones; determine the at least one microphone of the atleast two microphones for use according to the recording mode and thedetermined orientation; and process at least one microphone signal fromthe determined at least one microphone.
 28. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 27, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code arefurther configured to with the at least one processor cause theapparatus to at least: output, to a computer interface, a user interfacethat is configured to enable selection of the recording mode or one ormore other recording modes comprising surround sound recording, stereorecording mode, or mono recording mode.
 29. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 27, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code arefurther configured to with the at least one processor cause theapparatus to at least: determine a change to the orientation of thedevice; determine that the at least one microphone of the at least twomicrophones is unsupported for use according to the determined change tothe orientation of the device; and responsive to the determinedunsupported use, configure at least one audio track with a microphoneconfiguration based on the determined change to the orientation of thedevice.
 30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the at leastone memory and the computer code are further configured to with the atleast one processor cause the apparatus to determine the recording modeby: providing the surround sound recording mode responsive todetermining the landscape orientation of the device; and providing thestereo sound recording mode responsive to determining the portraitorientation of the device.
 31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27,wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are furtherconfigured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus todetermine the recording mode by: providing the stereo sound recordingmode using the at least two microphones responsive to determining thelandscape orientation of the device; and providing a mono soundrecording mode using the at least one microphone of the at least twomicrophones responsive to determining the portrait orientation of thedevice.
 32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the at leastone memory and the computer code are further configured to with the atleast one processor cause the apparatus to determine the at least onemicrophone by: responsive to determining an orientation of the device,enabling selection of one or more of the at least two microphones basedon the determined orientation of the device.
 33. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 27, wherein the at least one memory and the computercode are further configured to with the at least one processor cause theapparatus to determine the at least one microphone by: enablingselection of one or more of the at least two microphones according to apriority determination protocol which assigns priority selection of theat least two microphones according to the recording mode and thedetermined orientation.
 34. A computer program product comprising atleast one non-transitory computer readable storage medium havingcomputer-executable program code stored therein, the computer-executableprogram code configured to: determine an orientation of a device havinga microphone configuration comprising at least two microphones locatedrelative to each other with respect to the device, wherein the device isconfigured to be used in at least one of the determined orientations: alandscape orientation; or a portrait orientation; determine a recordingmode from among a plurality of recording modes, wherein each recordingmode of the plurality of recording modes comprises selecting at leastone microphone of the at least two microphones; determine the at leastone microphone of the at least two microphones for use according to therecording mode and the determined orientation; and process at least onemicrophone signal from the determined at least one microphone.
 35. Thecomputer program product as claimed in claim 34, wherein the computerexecutable program code is further configured to: output, to a computerinterface, a user interface that is configured to enable selection ofthe recording mode or one or more other recording modes comprisingsurround sound recording, stereo recording mode, or mono recording mode.36. The computer program product as claimed in claim 34, wherein thecomputer executable program code is further configured to: determine achange to the orientation of the device; determine that the at least onemicrophone of the at least two microphones is unsupported for useaccording to the determined change to the orientation of the device; andresponsive to the determined unsupported use, configure at least oneaudio track with a microphone configuration based on the determinedchange to the orientation of the device.
 37. The computer programproduct as claimed in claim 34, wherein the computer executable programcode is configured to determine the recording mode by: providing thesurround sound recording mode responsive to determining the landscapeorientation of the device; and providing the stereo sound recording moderesponsive to determining the portrait orientation of the device. 38.The computer program product as claimed in claim 34, wherein thecomputer executable program code is configured to determine therecording mode by: providing the stereo sound recording mode using theat least two microphones responsive to determining the landscapeorientation of the device; and providing the mono sound recording modeusing the at least one microphone of the at least two microphonesresponsive to determining the portrait orientation of the device. 39.The computer program product as claimed in claim 34, wherein thecomputer executable program code is configured to determine the at leastone microphone by: responsive to determining an orientation of thedevice, enabling selection of one or more of the at least twomicrophones based on the determined orientation of the device.